Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
December 28, 2017

A 54-year-old man, who has been waging a long battle with drugs, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for theft.

Patrick Bruce DeSilva, of no fixed place of abode, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Douglas Frederick to five charges, all of which were committed this month.

Between December 3 and 4 he stole five bottles of alcohol worth $535.40, a bottle of rum punch worth $120 and a cordless drill machine belonging to Benjamin Read.

He stole from Read again between December 17 and 20, but this time he took three bottles of alcohol worth $235.18, a bottle of rum punch worth $120, a cooler worth $200 and a $100 spanner tool set.

Read, who is the owner of a catamaran that is moored off the Boatyard on Bay Street, St Michael, secured the vessel on each occasion but on his return discovered items missing.

DeSilva apparently gained entry by jumping off another vessel onto the catamaran, prying open the rear glass door, removing the drinks and other items before leaving as he came.

None of the property was recovered when he was arrested.

However, his thieving spree did not end there. DeSilva admitted to stealing two gowns worth $26, a $5 bib, a $22 shirt, a $6 table cloth, a $5 sash, a $3 dust pan, a $5 searchlight, a $24 pair of slippers, a pair of emblems worth $2, cloth worth $3 and $1.50 in money belonging to Frederick George, between December 23 and 24, as well as a Barbados driver’s licence belonging to Glen King around the same time.

From the dock of the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court DeSilva explained that he was a product of a well off family but began using alcohol, marijuana and eventually cocaine when he tried to fit in with the “in crowd” – a group of guys who were older than him.

“It escalated from there . . . It has ruined my life and my relationship with my daughter,” DeSilva said, while revealing that he has 11 O’level certificates, as well as academic qualifications in marketing and management.

He also revealed that he appeared before Frederick back in 2010 and was sent to Verdun House for treatment, which he said was the “best thing a magistrate had ever done”.

However, after making use of the opportunity and being clean for a year and half, he had a relapse.

DeSilva also told the magistrate that while at HMP Dodds he had tutored inmates there for CXC subjects and had a 100 per cent pass rate.

However, he said he had been under a lot of pressure since his release for prison earlier this year.

After securing a job, DeSilva said a negative comment about his drug use “played with my head”.

“I am not making any excuses . . . but prison is not helping me [although] I am not expecting a slap on the wrist,” he said.

In response, Frederick told DeSilva that he was an intelligence man, but lacked confidence in himself.

“You grew up with a golden spoon but you let it turn to brass . . . . You could have gone further. [However], you have made a good contribution to the prison. You have a way with words, you motivate [the prisoners], but you are not motivating yourself,” the magistrate said before sending him off to prison.

“I want to see you change your life around, but more importantly to try to reform yourself,” Frederick added.

Had everything, was such a cool person, drugs became your God and now you steal from the very friends and people who tried to help you. Just out of prison not 4 months and your ass back up there again. Sad to say you are probably better off in there than on the streets doing shite. Sad.

Had everything, was such a cool person, drugs became your God and now you steal from the very friends and people who tried to help you. Just out of prison not 4 months and your ass back up there again. Sad to say you are probably better off in there than on the streets doing shite. Sad.

What I can’t understand how Barbadians in their forties and fifties getting into stupid problems with the law.
All these years and they havn’t learned anything. What about setting examples for the younger ones.???????

WOW ! ! !
With his last name being ” DaSilva ” how in the name of the Supreme being did he get arrested in “buh”bados ( Barbados ) ? ? ?
Kind Dyal has got to be turning over in his grave right now ! ! !

The point here Lady J is that I also hope that the gentleman can , as saga Boy says :

” get help for this bad habit and perhaps return to a state of normalcy “ and I wish Mr. DaSilva the best also.

BUT ! ! ! I don’t or have ever seen on this comment blog Saga Boy saying good things about or wishing the best for all other bajans 2 shades darker than Mr. DaSsilva , when these said bajans are shown in the paper committing the same very crimes as Mr. DaSilva.

All of a sudden pity is being shown and now it is for him :

” to get help for this bad habit and perhaps return to a state of normalcy “ . .. . . . .

That being said , Mr.DaSilva I wish you all the best for 2018 , and as you can tell Sir I am not a hypocrite .

The point here Lady J is that I also hope that the gentleman can , as saga Boy says :
” get help for this bad habit and perhaps return to a state of normalcy “ and I wish Mr. DaSilva the best also.
BUT ! ! ! I don’t or have ever seen on this comment blog Saga Boy saying good things about or wishing the best for all other bajans 2 shades darker than Mr. DaSsilva , when these said bajans are shown in the paper committing the same very crimes as Mr. DaSilva.
All of a sudden pity is being shown and now it is for him :
” to get help for this bad habit and perhaps return to a state of normalcy “ . .. . . . .
That being said , Mr.DaSilva I wish you all the best for 2018 , and as you can tell Sir I am not a hypocrite .

Until contributors on this very newspaper become Barbadians first of all and stop being Trinibarlucan this nation will not survive as morally and spiritually intended. Now what does a person’s pigmentation or family structure have to do with the civil laws of this fair land ? Stop your hipocricy Barbadians. This is your fairland, fields and hill. No one breaks your hand or ties you down to live here. Be an inclusive society please see pass your noses!

Until contributors on this very newspaper become Barbadians first of all and stop being Trinibarlucan this nation will not survive as morally and spiritually intended. Now what does a person’s pigmentation or family structure have to do with the civil laws of this fair land ? Stop your hipocricy Barbadians. This is your fairland, fields and hill. No one breaks your hand or ties you down to live here. Be an inclusive society please see pass your noses!

Helicopter(8P) , you need to bring your “copter” down to earth from outer space where you are right now , because if you were on earth and living in “buh”bados you would never would have made the comment :

” Now what does a person’s pigmentation or family structure have to do with the civil laws of this fair land ” ?

Helicopter(8P) , you need to bring your “copter” down to earth from outer space where you are right now , because if you were on earth and living in “buh”bados you would never would have made the comment :
” Now what does a person’s pigmentation or family structure have to do with the civil laws of this fair land ” ?
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